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A Better Valance Clip for Wood Blinds

Introduction: A Better Valance Clip for Wood Blinds

Those invisible clips that disguise the top part of your window blinds are called Valance Clips. They come in all shapes and sizes, and are inexplicably over-built, but flimsy at the same time. Using Adobe Illustrator, I've designed a more robust and simpler version that should fit most wood-molding valances, because I thought it was high time someone took a look at this ugly corner of the design world..and I needed a bunch of new valance clips!

In step 1 I've included the Adobe file (.ai), an .SVG and a PDF file in case you would like to use another program to re-create the design.The files are specific to wood blinds made by 3 Day Blinds. I have been told that the profile of the valance can change frequently, but a simple tweak to the shape should suffice if this is the case.

Also, although this is designed for laser cutting, I believe you could also use other methods to cut this, using the file printed on paper as a template.

Let me know what you think!

Step 1: Adjust Your File

In the graphic above I have tried to note the most important aspects of the clip design. You'll need to measure your valance to determine if the file will work as-is (8.9mm x 59.5mm). If not, un-group the lines and adjust them to your dimensions.

Try cutting your brackets out of cardboard first to see how they'll fit, but remember that the acrylic will cut a bit differently, and in my experience, the finished bracket comes out a little looser in acrylic, so a tight fit with cardboard is ok.

Attachments

Step 2: Duplicate the Shape and Cut!

Select and copy design once you have it adjusted to your satisfaction.

The settings for your laser cutter may be different than mine, but as a general tip, cutting acrylic requires a high frequency. Test it out to be sure the material is smoothly melting under the beam, not burning.

Let me know if you come up with any improvements to the design!

Note: I have made these out of birch plywood as well. They hold up ok. Over the past 8 months only one of the wood clips has broken. That said, the acrylic ones are much less visible and have had no failures.